Dose of Dignity: Gossiping with Dignity

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This episode of The Dignity Lab explores the evolution and significance of gossip, from its origins as a term for spiritual kinship to its modern social functions. We explain the ways in which gossip can serve positive purposes like social bonding and norm enforcement while also examining when it becomes harmful through practices like case-building.

Book Recommendation:

• Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Takeaways:

• The word "gossip" originated from "godsibb" (god + sibling), initially referring to spiritual kinship and close friendships before becoming associated with idle talk
• Gossip serves evolutionary and social purposes, helping humans share information, enforce social norms, and build larger group cooperation
• When gossiping, people often seek answers to unspoken questions like "Is what this person did okay?" and "Am I okay?" while trying to meet basic needs for validation and understanding
• Case-building, a form of repetitive negative gossip about someone who has wronged us, can be destructive and keep us stuck in negative patterns
• Body awareness and self-reflection can help determine whether gossip is serving a productive purpose or becoming harmful to ourselves and other
• Leaders have a responsibility to enforce a culture of dignity

Exploring what it means to live and lead with dignity at work, in our families, in our communities, and in the world. What is dignity? How can we honor the dignity of others? And how can we repair and reclaim our dignity after harm? Tune in to hear stories about violations of dignity and ways in which we heal, forgive, and make choices about how we show up in a chaotic and fractured world. Hosted by physician and coach Jennifer Griggs.

For more information on the podcast, please visit www.thedignitylab.com.
For more information on podcast host Dr. Jennifer Griggs, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/.
For additional free resources, including the periodic table of dignity elements, please visit https://jennifergriggs.com/resources/.

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